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Reviews

seen this one in the theatre and wanted it. i can't wait for the next one to come out because it will be in my collection also. i love the harry potter movies and i'm not a teenager or young child either. thanks again

Rabid fans of the novel will be disappointed at what's left out - for everyone else, this is probably the best of the Potter movies so far...fantastic art direction and cinematography, that help build up the sense that unstoppable Darkness is approaching Hogwarts... wonderfully poignant glimpses of the Hogwarts kids as teenagers who may be great at magic but don't know what to do with their hormones... though this episode is one last stop, before the two-part finale, it's deeply satisfying in its own right, as we see the wrenching end of the beloved characters' innocence -the last dark glimpse of Hogwarts before the Beginning of the End.

I was not a fan of director David Yates's adaptation of "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix", which was a disjointed mess that got neither the feel nor the substance of the book correct, so I was not optimistic about this sixth film in the Harry Potter series. The return of series scribe Steve Kloves seems to have made a big difference, because this movie does a great job of keeping all of the complex character interplay intact even as large chunks of plot are lost along the way. These characters felt like the characters I'd read in the books, and I care a lot more about that than having every scene from the book reproduced, however fleetingly. This is probably the least action-heavy of the movies so far, but if you don't care about the characters by now, why are you still watching? The cinematography for the film went through a belaboured process. Cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel originally intended a very dark, very monochrome -- almost black and white -- look for the film. After seeing how far in that direction Delbonnel had gone, they panicked and ordered the unique look scaled back, with the color saturation boosted back up considerably. The result is a beautiful looking film, but NOT a natural looking film. The picture remains very dark, with a lot of detail lost to the shadows that there's no way of getting back. The midranges are anemic, because there simply wasn't that much detail to bring back in the first place. This is how the film looked in theaters and is NOT a fault of the Blu-ray presentation. It's how the movie's supposed to look, even if that look isn't everyone's cup of tea.

I really didnt like this movie, this series just keeps getting more boring and long. My husband insisted we get this to continue his set of the series, but he wasnt interested in the movie either

The movie came quickly to my house and in pristine condition. I'm very happy with my purchase.

Reviews

seen this one in the theatre and wanted it. i can't wait for the next one to come out because it will be in my collection also. i love the harry potter movies and i'm not a teenager or young child either. thanks again

Rabid fans of the novel will be disappointed at what's left out - for everyone else, this is probably the best of the Potter movies so far...fantastic art direction and cinematography, that help build up the sense that unstoppable Darkness is approaching Hogwarts... wonderfully poignant glimpses of the Hogwarts kids as teenagers who may be great at magic but don't know what to do with their hormones... though this episode is one last stop, before the two-part finale, it's deeply satisfying in its own right, as we see the wrenching end of the beloved characters' innocence -the last dark glimpse of Hogwarts before the Beginning of the End.

I was not a fan of director David Yates's adaptation of "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix", which was a disjointed mess that got neither the feel nor the substance of the book correct, so I was not optimistic about this sixth film in the Harry Potter series. The return of series scribe Steve Kloves seems to have made a big difference, because this movie does a great job of keeping all of the complex character interplay intact even as large chunks of plot are lost along the way. These characters felt like the characters I'd read in the books, and I care a lot more about that than having every scene from the book reproduced, however fleetingly. This is probably the least action-heavy of the movies so far, but if you don't care about the characters by now, why are you still watching? The cinematography for the film went through a belaboured process. Cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel originally intended a very dark, very monochrome -- almost black and white -- look for the film. After seeing how far in that direction Delbonnel had gone, they panicked and ordered the unique look scaled back, with the color saturation boosted back up considerably. The result is a beautiful looking film, but NOT a natural looking film. The picture remains very dark, with a lot of detail lost to the shadows that there's no way of getting back. The midranges are anemic, because there simply wasn't that much detail to bring back in the first place. This is how the film looked in theaters and is NOT a fault of the Blu-ray presentation. It's how the movie's supposed to look, even if that look isn't everyone's cup of tea.

I really didnt like this movie, this series just keeps getting more boring and long. My husband insisted we get this to continue his set of the series, but he wasnt interested in the movie either

The movie came quickly to my house and in pristine condition. I'm very happy with my purchase.

Reviews

seen this one in the theatre and wanted it. i can't wait for the next one to come out because it will be in my collection also. i love the harry potter movies and i'm not a teenager or young child either. thanks again

Rabid fans of the novel will be disappointed at what's left out - for everyone else, this is probably the best of the Potter movies so far...fantastic art direction and cinematography, that help build up the sense that unstoppable Darkness is approaching Hogwarts... wonderfully poignant glimpses of the Hogwarts kids as teenagers who may be great at magic but don't know what to do with their hormones... though this episode is one last stop, before the two-part finale, it's deeply satisfying in its own right, as we see the wrenching end of the beloved characters' innocence -the last dark glimpse of Hogwarts before the Beginning of the End.

I was not a fan of director David Yates's adaptation of "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix", which was a disjointed mess that got neither the feel nor the substance of the book correct, so I was not optimistic about this sixth film in the Harry Potter series. The return of series scribe Steve Kloves seems to have made a big difference, because this movie does a great job of keeping all of the complex character interplay intact even as large chunks of plot are lost along the way. These characters felt like the characters I'd read in the books, and I care a lot more about that than having every scene from the book reproduced, however fleetingly. This is probably the least action-heavy of the movies so far, but if you don't care about the characters by now, why are you still watching? The cinematography for the film went through a belaboured process. Cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel originally intended a very dark, very monochrome -- almost black and white -- look for the film. After seeing how far in that direction Delbonnel had gone, they panicked and ordered the unique look scaled back, with the color saturation boosted back up considerably. The result is a beautiful looking film, but NOT a natural looking film. The picture remains very dark, with a lot of detail lost to the shadows that there's no way of getting back. The midranges are anemic, because there simply wasn't that much detail to bring back in the first place. This is how the film looked in theaters and is NOT a fault of the Blu-ray presentation. It's how the movie's supposed to look, even if that look isn't everyone's cup of tea.

I really didnt like this movie, this series just keeps getting more boring and long. My husband insisted we get this to continue his set of the series, but he wasnt interested in the movie either

The movie came quickly to my house and in pristine condition. I'm very happy with my purchase.

Reviews

This was another one of Rowlings books that I could not put down. The characters I have come to love and respect, flaws and all, were back. The plot was tying up at the same time as becoming more complex. I simply can't get enough of the Harry Potter world, and this book was right up there with the rest. Of course there were a few plot holes that made you scratch your head and I was pretty dissapointed with Snapes conclusion- mostly because I wanted MORE of one. But maybe that's a good thing- keep us readers wanting and free to make a few of our own conclusions. Also, some of Dumbledores choices were hard to take in and the absense of Ginny was depressing. I wanted to know more of what happened to everyone as well! Nonetheless, this was a truly epic novel, and all that's bad that can be said are just nitpicks. Highly reccomend all 7 books.

I'm a latecomer to the Harry Potter series and I just finished Deathly Hallows. Others before me have reviewed all the major plot points, so I won't offer opinions save one. For me, the best moment in this book was Dudley Dursley expressing concern for Harry's safety, and then shaking his hand and thanking Harry for saving him from the dementors. While Dudley is not mentioned again in the book, I like to think this was the beginning of a better, kinder Dudley, who was finally awakened to the type of person he was and his willingness to change.

We were listening to this in the car on the way home from vacation. There were still 8 or so CD left when we got home. Luckily I had one extra day of vacation so that we could listen to the rest the next day. Very compelling.

With something as anticipated as the 7th (and final!) book in The Harry Potter series, there is massive potential for alot of people to be disappointed (much like I was with the Order of the Phoenix movie)- I was sure I was going to be disappointed- because really, who can live up to that kind of hype? But to my IMMENSE joy- Rowling delivered for me. (Great Googlely Mooglely did she ever!) I cannot think of a single thing that she did wrong in this book. Rather than disappoint, she gives her fans what they wanted- no needed- from the story, and she gives a big fat smooch with a sweet little epilogue that ties it all up in a nice little bow in the end! Okay first a little non-spoilerage: Starting where The Half Blood Prince left off, The Deathly Hallows takes the three pals (Harry, Ron, and Hermione) into certain peril almost immediately and doesn't let up until the end. They are on a mission. With a message seemingly from the grave, Dumbledore has tasked them to seek and destroy the 7 horcruxes- the enchanted items the evil Lord Voldemort has created to maintain invulnerability. Dumbledore has tasked the three, and the three alone, to do this and to keep it a secret. Although their families and friends, including The Order of the Phoenix, know nothing of the secret mission- other than knowing there is something that Dumbledore asked them to do-, they are in danger as well because old Voldy will use whatever he can to destroy Harry, the boy he believes may eventually end his life because of a prophesy given years ago by Professor Trelawny. But. Much to Harry, Ron and Hermione's advantage, Voldy doesn't know that they know about the horcruxes. So we got that? Harry must destroy the horcruxes and then face the dark lord in a final battle that will end one of their lives- or more likely, both. ON TO THE SPOILERS (Don't read if you are one of the few people left on the planet to have not read the series!!) HOLEEE CRICKEY! So many things. The opening scene at Malfoy Manor I could see being played out excellently in a movie-. The death eaters gathered listening to The Dark Lord while a bound body slowly turns over the table. Particularly eery for me because we find Snape giving up the timing in which Harry will move from the Dursley's to a safe house. (I still was not set on the fact that Snape was evil when I opened the book. This did much to sway me in the other direction.) Next we find Harry saying his final goodbye to the Dursley's with Dudders being surprisingly gracious. I thought for sure Petunia might give over more but alas- a bitter woman all the way. The Order arrives to escort Harry out with a little trickery but they are, of course, attacked from the get go. Hedgewig dying in the first 50 pages?! Actually felt sad over that one! Even more so then over Mad Eye's death. (Yep he's out too.) They arrive at the safe house safe and, for some of them, not completely sound. It is then The Three set about getting ready for the mission- keeping it a secret from the Order as Dumbledore wished. After Bill and Fleur marry, they leave, and a big chunk of the book covers they're hopping around working out the puzzle of the horcurxes- and something new. The deathly hallows. Three items that will also make a wizard immortal. Because Harry is connected to Voldemort once again, (actually he never was disconnected as we find at the end), he realizes that the Dark Lord is after the Deathly Hallows. But thru some brutal circumstances that happened after he sidetracked to catch Voldy going after the Hallows, Harry finally decides he must not be dissuaded from his original quest. Which leads him to the final confrontation- at Hogwarts, naturally. (I LOVED that she brought them home in the end!) During the quest there's some tension between the three and one of them bails for a time. But to my joy that doesn't last too long. (Very well done as well because I was sure Rowling was splitting them up so that Harry has to do the deed all alone.) For the romance lover in me, Ron and Hermione come very close together during this time and come together for an eventual snog that so fit Hermione's character I almost cried- and definitely laughed out loud with a satisfying "AWWWW!" Ron is so gallant at times I want to kiss him too! Harry is so focused on his mission we don't see much 'shipping on his end, but- he's always very conscious of wanting to keep his lady love safe- also very well played by Rowling! Snape/Dumbledore. What can I say. She had me guessing on Snape until something suddenly came into focus that had been lingering around in my noggin but had yet to solidify. (And I can't tell you when, but it was before Harry got to see Snape's thoughts.) Of course Dumbledore gave up his life to Snape. What better way to protect Harry then to have a spy right next to the enemy, which is where Snape would be placed by killing off one the most powerful wizards- and one so hated by Voldemort. But when Rowling pulles it all together- with Harry seeing Snape's deep love for Lily, I again felt awed at Rowling's skill. (Puzzle pieces falling into place make me very satisfied. No, I'm not saying she's gonna go down in history for technical merit, but jeeze louise can she plot!) Then- harry dies. But I knew Harry wasn't really gonna stay dead. At least not after he finally cracked open the snitch that Dumbledore had left Harry in his will. The third Deathly Hallow- the resurrection stone. But then, when it all came down, I don't think it was the resurrection stone that actually brought him back. It just brought back all his loved ones that had died up until that point- for a time at least. (I'm gonna have to do a reread to fully digest all that.) We do know that part of Harry which actually died, the part that had to die, was the part of Voldemort that lived in Harry after he attacked him as a baby. (You see, Harry was in fact the 7th horcrux that needed to be destroyed before Voldemort could become mortal again.) Either way, after the revelation of the resurrection stone, I knew Harry wouldn't be dead for long. And, thank Rowling, he wasn't. (And nope she didn't kill off Ron nor Hermione! NOR Hargrid for that matter, and that was the one false spoiler I saw before I read the book- that Snape kills Hagrid!! NOT TRUE! NOT TRUE! NOT TRUE!!! BUT someone does die that no fan wanted to see go. The problem was it happened in the heat of battle and there was so much going on that one didn't really have the time to fully grieve the death. That perhaps disappointed me a little.) In the end, Harry is victorious... and we of course wouldn't have it any other way. Perfect and sly of her wasn't it? Before it's release she had been telling us he's gonna die- And he did! But we also get our Happily Ever After! I loved, loved, LOVED the 7th and final installment so, naturally, 5 out of 5 from me!!!

Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow. Oh my goodness!!!! I cannot believe that the series is done. I'm in awe. I finished this book last night, I had about 250 pages left and started reading at midnight. I stayed up until I finished it off. It is remarkable how J.K. Rowling finished this book. I was truly in tears. This story had become so dear to me as I read, I associated with the characters and I grew to love them. The ending was an epic battle scene that I can't wait to see reproduced on the big screen, though they won't even be able to touch the genius of the writing for this book. Wow!!! Okay, a few points, I was very upset that one of the twins died, but I understand that some had to die for the battle scene, and the one that really upset me was that Lupin and Tonks kicked the bucket when they had a new baby. Harry being his godfather, I thought he would be with Harry in the Epilogue, but he wasn't, but I love how everything was wrapped up in the Epilogue. I love that even though Draco was awful to Harry for the majority of his time at Hogwarts, Harry was still a good enough person to save him when he needed saving a few times. That was a friendship that I didn't expect, but wanted to happen, even though it's a nod friendship. I loved how Narcissa turned on Voldemort in the end and kept it secret that Harry was still alive, enabling Harry to forge a plan in the end. Oh, and holy snaps! I heart Snape! I always liked Snape from the beginning, his character was too secretive to be what he put on, and in the end, I knew it would turn out nicely for Harry and Snape's relationship, even though Snape was killed. The intrigue in this last book about Dumbledore was incredibly interesting and finding out that the barkeep at the Hog's Head was Aberforth and hearing the true story from him was awesome, especially after Rita Skeeter's horrible book. I was fretful of what happened to Mad-Eye, because they never found his body, I was hoping he would turn up, even though Harry found his eye at the Ministry. The tale about the Hallows added so much to the overall series that I was just completely in awe with Rowling's talent. She is amazing! I was glad to see Neville finally make his gram proud, that was something that I always hoped for. Gosh, I could go on and on, but what good would that be? I just loved this series, it was incredible. I can't get over it still, but I doubt I ever will.

Reviews

Read it at night to my 5 yr old boy. We enjoyed the adventures and still laugh and talk about the book. I am now on book 4- Harry Potter is a sure page turner.

Spoilers! There is a reason I think that J.K. Rowling managed to get so famous for her writing. I think it is because she has a very different style of writing from many other authors. It seems to flow differently than many other books. Anyway, I'm writing a review about Harry Potter, not J.K. Rowling. I thought that the book was very funny, and the characters were well developed for a first book in a longer series. I loved some of her ideas, and she used actual historical facts in this book. Nicolas Flamel was a real person, and I think that it was a good idea to include real facts in a fantasy book. I also loved the idea of the Mirror of Erised, where you could only see the deepest desire of your heart. I thought that it was really sweet that Harry saw his parents. It had everything I look for in a good book: good characters, the right amount of suspense- yet not horror, humor, and just a really good storyline. I will say this though, the first time I read it when I was eight, I did have nightmares and did not enjoy it. I read it again when I was twelve and loved it, so I would say that the age group would be 10 and up. I have read it over and over and it is still just as good as reading it the first time. I would suggest it to anyone who loves to read, and even a few who don't!

I absolutely love and adore Harry Potter! Sorry. It had to be said. No, but seriously I do. I first bought Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone at my school's Scholastic book fair when I was in 5th grade. I remember that they were having a buy one, get one free sale and I went there with the sole intention of finding another Party of Five book told from Claudia's perspective (I had bought one of those at a previous book fair and loved it. Oddly enough, I had never watched the show at that point, just read a few of the books...) and I thought since it was free, might as well pick up The Sorcerer's Stone. My older sister by a year had been raving about this book because her teacher was reading it to the class and she loved it. So, I picked it up. I devoured that Party of Five book in a day, loved it, and re-read it again the day after. The day after that, I picked up The Sorcerer's Stone, read one chapter, deemed the book "boring", set it down, and that was that. At least until the movie was released during my freshmen year of high school. I watched the movie in theatres and absolutely loved it. I then picked up my 5th grade copy of The Sorcerer's Stone, dusted it off, read it, and loved it so much more than the movie. That started my anything but brief obsession with everything Harry Potter. I just fell in love with the whole world that J.K. Rowling created in the books. And I'll admit that even though I was a freshmen in high school when I first read it (all types of grown-up or so I thought), I still dreamed of waking up and finding my own Hogwarts letter delivered to me by owl post. I think that's the magic of the Harry Potter books. The children fall in love with a brand new world that's so different from their own and the adults are taken back to a more innocent time, where you still believe that good always triumphs over evil and when we all still believed in fairy tales. Since that first initial read, I have re-read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (and the other novels in the series) more than a dozen times. Every time I re-read it, I get something new out of it. Some subtlety that shows up in the later works that I didn't really grasp until I had read it again. It also never fails to make me feel better if I'm having a crappy day because let's face it. Harry, Hermione, and Ron were going through something so much worse. I just loved every single one of these characters. Harry was everything a hero should be: brave, loyal, clever, etc. And Hermione and Ron are the types of friends that everyone hopes for. The ones who are with you through thick and thin and don't judge you the whole way through. My favorite characters in this series would have to be Hermione, because I'm just a big a nerd as she is, and Fred and George, because their humor always made the books for me (of course, Luna is also one of my favorite characters, since she doesn't show up until Book 5, she doesn't get more than a brief mention here). Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone introduces all of us to an amazing world with tremendous characters (both good and evil and everything in between). However, as much as I love The Sorcerer's Stone, I do have to say that re-reading it both last year and this year, I'm not surprised that I put it down in the 5th grade. Since it is the first book, we have to wade through the exposition of how Harry gets to go to Hogwarts. The result is that the beginning chapters aren't as exciting as the ones that follow. I do have to say that as much as I love this book because it introduced me to the spectacular world of Hogwarts, it is my least favorite of the seven. It's just that the books get so much better as the series goes on. And now I feel bad for even thinking the words "least favorite"... Anyway, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone will always hold a place near and dear in my heart because not only is it a fabulous novel, it was the book that got me back into reading. While I read a lot in elementary school, my interest in reading waned during middle school. Since I've read The Sorcerer's Stone, my interest in reading hasn't waned one bit. And I think that's the magic of the whole Harry Potter series, it a lot of people back into reading and it definitely got kids excited about reading again. I think it's influence is something that will still be significant in years to come.

It is a good book. It has really cool stuff in it like a fully-grown mountain troll and the sorcerer's stone. Hermione used a lot of magic. Malfoy was very selfish and mean and one of the reasons Harry didn't want to be in Slytherin.

Funny story I have about this book. Every night, I would get home and play video games like a regular teenager. One random day I just picked up the book, dropped me pants, went to the loo, and sat and read. I finished three of the 4 (at the time) books in 2 weeks sitting on the pot. Funny story, true story. 5/5

Reviews

The Harry Potter books are jewels in the realm of fantasy novels. They get better and better as novels become larger in length. Chamber of Secrets offered one of the best mysteries I've read in a long time, as does the rest of the series. I think you will find that nothing in the world of Harry Potter is predictable and every suprise comes splendidly. I've read 4 of the 7 books before, and I recall Chamber of Secrets being my favorite. If you loved Sorcerer's Stone, then you will be thankful that the following books never decay in quality. Mystery, Suspense, Wonder, and Wicked Fun await you. As the wizarding world broadens we are always left wanting more. I reccomend these tyrant stories of the fantasy world to any type of reader. I doubt there are many people in this world who can manage to dislike Harry Potter after reading it. Chamber of Secrets offers no secrets to steer you away. Harry Potter: Book 2 is solid and dashing without flaw.

Chamber of Secrets is a fine book, but even after having read it several times and now listening to it on audiobook (the first time I've revisted the story in probably 5 years), my feeling hasn't really changed in regard to it being my least favorite of the Potter books. Even saying that, it's not that I hate the book. There's a lot to like in it. I just feel like it remains the volume in which the main mystery is the least well-developed; it's the book in which two of the final reveal feels like they come from out of left field. Yes, I'm still bothered by the way Ginny is absent for most of the book yet stands revealed in the end as a main component of what has been going on at the school all year long. I felt like there should have been more indicators than the occasional "Ginny looks like she's got a stomach ache" toss-off line. I also think the reveal of Lucius Malfoy's connection is a bit of a stretch, although there at least you can go back to the beginning of the book and think "okay, yeah, I guess that happened." However, as I said, even with that dissatisfaction, there's still plenty to like. Gilderoy Lockhart remains one of my favorite smarmy, self-involved characters of all time. I can't help but picture Kenneth Brannagh when I reread the book, and even with Jim Dale's slightly different take on the voice of the character, I still felt Brannagh's presence. And of course, Rowling used this book to set up so much of what will come later: the mystery of Harry's shared abilities with Lord Voldemort, the Harry-Draco Quidditch rivarly, the possibility that rather than being the Heir of Slytherin, Harry is actually the Heir of Gryffindor, and of course the introductory mention of Azkaban prison. While Nearly Headless Nick's Deathday party feels like a bit of a waste of space considering the smaller and smaller roles the ghosts play as the series evolves, it is still a fun diversion. Jim Dale, of course, does his usual stellar job at performing the book and giving characters individual voices. It is a little tough listening to these while driving because his voice is just so darn soothing, but if I don't listen to them on the road, I never will!

I love the Harry Potter series. I have all of the hardback books in the series and bought this one to complete the paperback series for my kids to read. This is a very good series and I recommend it highly. It is good for young readers because it is very easy to get into.

J.K. Rowling has written one of the best series of books ever. I prefer listening to it as read by Jim Dale because he adds a demension to the book that lets your immagination run away with you.

Book arrived in excelent condition. Super fast shipping and great price. I am very pleased with this purchase!